The series is set in Liverpool in the mid-19th century and deals with the rise of a shipping line, the Onedin Line, named after its owner James Onedin. Around this central theme are the lives of his family, most notably his brother and 'partner', shop owner Robert, and his sister Elizabeth, giving insight in the lifestyle and customs at the time, not only at sea, but also ashore (mostly lower and upper middle class).
The series also illustrates some of the changes in business and shipping, such as from wooden to steel ships and from sailing ships to steam ships. And it shows the role that ships played in affairs like international politics, uprisings and the slave trade. The series was created by Cyril Abraham, a native of Liverpool, where the story is set. An article in "Woman" magazine published in July 1973, interviewing Cyril Abraham, tells how he came up with the very unusual family name Onedin. He wanted something unique, He'd decided to call the male character James, but still had not found a name when the tv company agreed to film the story.
Then some inspiration. He said, "One day I stumbled across the word Ondine, a mythological sea creature. By transposing the "e", I had James Onedin, a sea devil." The music behind the opening credits of the series is an excerpt from the Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia from the ballet Spartacus by Aram Khachaturian, and other background music includes excerpts from Ralph Vaughan Williams's Symphony No. 5, Manuel de Falla's The Three-Cornered Hat, and Dmitri Shostakovich's Symphony No. 1.
The programme was recorded in Dartmouth, Devon, as well as certain scenes in Exeter, Falmouth and Gloucester (many of the dock scenes). The last series was filmed in Pembroke Dock, Wales where the 18th Century naval dockyard and surrounding streets became Liverpool and various coastal locations in the Pembrokeshire area substituted for Turkey and Portugal. A fantastic Series not to be missed this story will live with you........................
Series 1
The Wind Blows Free
Plain Sailing
Other Points of the Compass
High Price
Catch as Can
Salvage
Passage to Pernambuco
The Homecoming
When My Ship Comes Home
A Very Important Passenger
Mutiny
Cry of the Blackbird
Shadow of Doubt
Blockade
Winner Take All
Series 2
The Hard Case
Pound and Pint
A Woman Alone
Fetch and Carry
Yellow Jack
Survivor
Coffin Ship
‘Frisco Bound
Beyond the Upper Sea
An Inch of Candle
Goodbye, Goodbye
Bloody Week
The Challenge
Race for Power
Series 3
The Ship Devils
The Stranger
Echoes from Afar
Amazon Cargo
Danger Level
Black Gold
Law of the Fist
Ice and Fire
A Proposal of Marriage
Over the Horizon
The Silver Caddy
Port Out, Starboard Home
The Passenger
Series 4
Loss of the Helen May
A Cold Wind Blowing
Not Wanted on Voyage
Undercurrent
Quarantine
Uncharted Island
A Clear Conscience
Shipwreck
The Gamble
Month of the Albatross
Series 5
When Troubles Come
Rescue
Coffin Ships
The Trade Winds
The Stowaway
Dead Man’s Cargo
A Hard Life
The Hostage
Uncharted Waters
A Close Run Thing
Series 6
No Smoke Without
Collision Course
Double Dealers
Stand by to Go About
The Upright Man
The Reverend’s Daughter
Highly Explosive
A Sea of Troubles
Men of Honour
The Fortune Hunters
Series 7
Liverpool Bound
The Homecoming
The Paddy Westers
Dirty Cargo
To Honour and Obey
Running Free
The Suitor
Storm Clouds
Outward Bound
Homeward Bound
Series 8
A Royal Return
Revenge
Blood Ties
The Honeymoon
Jonah’s Luck
The Price of Pride
Vengeance
Guilty - In All Innocence
A Long Way Home
Series Cast
Peter Gilmore
Jessica Benton
Howard Lang
Mary Webster
Brian Rawlinson
Michael Billington
Anne Stallybrass
Jill Gascoine
Philip Bond
Laura Hartong
Christopher Douglas
John Rapley
James Hayter
Kate Nelligan
Tom Adams
John Phillips
Caroline Harris
Marc Harrison
James Garbutt E
dward Chapman
Ken Hutchison
Patricia Prior
Jane Seymour
Michael Walker
Robert James
Keith Jayne
Frederick Jaeger
Frank Gatliff
Rio Fanning
Jay Neill
David Garfield
Thomas Heathcote
Godfrey James
Arnold Peters
Ed Devereaux
Roberta Iger
Warren Clarke
John Franklyn-Robbins
Walter Sparrow
Alan Hockey
Many More.............
Runtime:50 min (91 episodes)
Country:UK Language:English
Color:Color
Certification:PG
Filming Locations:Bayard's Cove, Dartmouth, Devon, England, UK
Format:DVDR
Region:Free
Format:PAL/or/NTSC
Supplied In Protective Sleeves No Discs:19
